Vishing – Fraud Awareness
Be Fraud Aware – Vishing
In today’s digital age, where technology connects us in more ways than ever before, the threat of fraud looms large. While it’s not the most thrilling topic, understanding the ins and outs of common scams is vital to safeguarding your hard-earned money and personal information. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and delve deeper into the world of fraud, exploring phishing, vishing, and smishing – and how you can steer clear of these traps. Last in the series is Vishing.
Understanding Vishing: Picture this scenario: you’re going about your day when you receive a phone call seemingly from your Credit Union. The caller urges you to provide your account details due to a security breach. What do you do? Stop right there! This could be a classic case of vishing.
Vishing (voice phishing) calls often mimic legitimate organisations and employ various tactics to trick you into revealing sensitive information. The caller may use urgent language, threats of account suspension, or promises of rewards to lure you into providing personal details over the phone. Remember, your Credit Union will never ask you to verify your account details via a phone call. When in doubt, reach out to your Credit Union directly using verified contact information.
Tips to Spot a Vishing Scam:
Unexpected Calls: Be cautious of unexpected calls claiming to be from your Credit Union or any other financial institution. If you weren’t expecting a call, it could be a scam.
Urgency and Threats: Scammers often create a sense of urgency or fear. If the caller threatens immediate action, such as account suspension or legal consequences, be wary.
Request for Sensitive Information: Legitimate organisations will not ask for sensitive information, such as your account number, password, or PIN, over the phone.
Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers can make it appear as if they are calling from a legitimate number. Do not trust the caller ID alone as verification of the caller’s identity.
Verify the Caller: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the organisation directly using a verified phone number from their official website or your account statement.
Unfamiliar Caller Behaviour: If the caller is pressuring you to make a decision quickly or acting aggressively, it’s likely a scam. Legitimate representatives will allow you time to verify their identity.
Too Good to Be True: Be sceptical of calls that promise you rewards, prizes, or financial gains in exchange for your personal information. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Stay alert and protect yourself from vishing scams by verifying any suspicious calls directly with your Credit Union or the relevant organisation. If you are curious about this or any other fraud related activities you can visit Fraud Smart
